Fastening device



June 7, 1932. s. s, ADAMS FASTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. lO, 1951 Anale/#EVPatented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE STEPHEN S. ADAMS, FST. LOUIS, MISSOURI FASTENING DEVICE Application filed J'anuary-10,1931.v vSerial No. 507,306.

This invention relates generally to lightreflecting signs of the typeincluding the use of cataphotes, or light-reflecting buttons whichreflect rays oflight directed thereupon by automobile headlights and thelike, for the purpose of illuminating the signs, and more particularlyto an improved fastening device for securing said cataphotes orlight-reflecting buttons in place in the signs, the predominant objectof the invention being to provide an extremely simple fastening deviceof the type referred to which is so constructed and arranged in thesigns that the cataphotes or light-reiecting buttons may be very easilyintroduced in place and fastened therein in al very secure manner.

Prior to this invention much inconvenience and annoyance was occasionedin connection with t-he maintenance of light-reflecting signs of thetype referred to above, due to the ab' sence of an entirely successfulmeans for securing the cataphotes or light-reflecting buttons in placein the signs. In the case of some of the signs heretofore used, thecataphotes or light-reflecting buttons were unattached to the signs andwere held in place merely by contact with the removable rear wallsthereof. The result of this arrangement was that when the rear walls ofthe signs were removed for any purpose, the cataphotes orlight-reflecting buttons would fall out of place.

Other means for securing the cataphotes or light-reecting buttons inplace were adopted heretofore, butnone of such means were found to beentirely successful in use.

In view of the foregoing, Ihave devised thefastening device disclosedherein, which, i9 briefly stated, comprises a yoke-like structure whichis connected to the front wall of the sign and embraces the rear portionof the associated cataphote or light-reflecting button. The fasteningdevice is so arranged that it is capable of pivotal movement withrespect to the front wall of the sign, such movement providing for thefastening device being moved to a position where the associatedcataphote or light-reflecting button may be readily introduced intoplace, whereupon the fastening device may be moved to a position whereit embraces the rear portion of the cataphote or light-reflecting buttonand thus securely holds same in place.

Fig. l is a fragmentary front elevation of a light-reflecting sign whichis provided with my improved fastening devices for securing thecataphotes or light-reflecting buttons thereof in place. Y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 60 of Fig. l showing acataphote and one of my improved fastening devices in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation illustrating the rear'portion ofone of the cataphotes or light-reflecting buttons and showing one of myimproved fastening devices in use. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Fig. l showing a cataphoteand one of the improved fastening devices in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a modied formvof the improved fastening device. i Y

Fig. 6 is still another modified form of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, several embodiments of the invention, A designates a fragment ofthe front wall of a light-reflecting sign, said front wall preferablybeing provided with a depressed portion B which is shaped to provide aletter of the complete sign. The4 front wallA of thejsign is providedwith a plurality of apertures C formed therethrough which are arrangedin aconfiguration corresponding to the shape of the letter produced bythe depressed portion B, and as shown clearly in Fig. 1 each aperture Cis circular in shape andlis provided at its opposite sides with notchesC Partially extended through each of the apertures C is a cataphote, orlight-reiiecting button D, said cataphote or light-reflecting buttoncomprising a body portion DaL and an enlarged head portion Db, thelatter portion being covered by a metallic shell E. The outer endportion of the body portion of the cataphote or light-reflecting buttonD is rounded, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, and this rounded end portionis extended through the y associated aperture C in the front wall of thesign. Also, the body portion D"t of each of the cataphotes orlight-reflecting buttons D is tapered from a smaller diameter at itsforward portion to a larger diameter at its rear portion, and saidtapered diameter is of such size relative to the size of the associatedaperture C that the cataphote or light-reflecting button seats againstthe wall of the aperture C, whereby excessive forward movement of thecataphote with respect to the front wall A of the sign is prevented.

My improved fastening device comprises a substantially U-shaped elementF having outwardly turned gripping portions l at the outer ends of theleg portions 2. Also, the fastening devices F each include a bridgeportion 3 which joins the leg portions 2 thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.Each fastening device is preferably in the form of a one-piece orintegral structure formed of resilient material, and the bridge portion3, as shown in Fig. 2, is preferably bowed and is provided with curvedportions 4 at opposite -sides ther-eof which join the bowed bridgeportion 3V with the leg portions 2. By providing the fastening devicewith the curved portions 4 the resiliency of the device is greatlyincreased, whereby the fastening device may elongate and thus adjustitself to different positions of the associated cataphote.V Also, thisresilient arrangement of the fastening device provides for the usethereof with cataphotes of different sizes and shapes. In addition tothe resiliency imparted tothe fastening devices by the curved portions4, the bowed condition of the bridge portions 3 adds to the resiliencyof the device.l Preferably the bridge portions 3 of the fasteningdevices are each provided with an enlarged portion 3 adapted to contactwith the rear face of the associated cataphote or lightreflectingbutton.

In the use of one of my improved fastening devices, the outer endportions of the leg portions 2 thereof are extended through theassociated aperture C, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, in a manner tocause the outwardly turned gripping portion 1 to contact with the outerface of the front wall A of the sign. When viewed in cross-section, theoutwardly turned gripping portions l are of arcuate formation, as shownin Fig. 4, and this arrangement permits of the fastening device beingsubjected to pivotal movement, the arcuate face of the gripping portions1 functioning in very much the same manner as a round pivot pin. Whenthe fastening device is arranged with the outer portions of the legportions thereof extended through the associated aperture C, asdescribed, said leg portions are disposed in the notches C at oppositesides of the aperture, and because the depth of the notchesapproximately equals the thickness of the leg portions as shown in Fig.l, the full diameter of the aperture is maintained throughout. In otherwords, the leg portions of the fastening device do not project into theaperture C, for if this were so said leg portions would interfere withthe proper location of the associated cataphote or light-reflectingbutton in said aperture.

In arranging a cataphotc or light-reflecting button D in place in thesign, the fastening device F is moved to the position in which same isillustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the notches C being of sufficientlength to 4permit such pivotal movement of the fastening device. Thecataphote or light-reflecting button D is then arranged in position withits forward rounded portion extendedthrough the associated aperture C,as shown in Fig. 4, after which the rear end portion of the fasteningdevice is moved, by being pivoted about the gripping portions l, to theposition in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The fasteningdevice is resilient so as to be capable of elongation, as alreadyexplained, hence said fastening device will yield' as it is moved inContact with the rear end of the cataphote or light-reflecting button D.Also, because of this resiliency, the tapered face of the body portionof the cataphote or light-reiiecting button will be forced firmly intoContact with the wall of the aperture in a manner to securely hold saidcataphote or light-reflecting button in place. W'hen it is desired toremove a cataphote or light-reflecting button from a sign, it isnecessary to merely subject the fastening device to pivotal movement soas to move said fastening device to a position where the cataphote orlight-reiiect-ing button may be withdrawn from the associated aperture,after which the leg portions Q-of the fastening' device may be movedtoward eachother to permit removal of the Vgripping portions l throughthe aperture.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate a slightly different form of the invention inaccordance with which the desired resiliency is imparted to thefastening devicefby providing the bridge port-ion 3 thereof with acurved portion 5.

The fastening device illustrated in Fig. 6 is provided with a pluralityof bowed or curved portions 4 at each side thereof for giving the devicethe required resiliency instead of a single one of such portions at eachside, as illustrated in the preferred form of the invention. Y

I'claim:

l. A device for fastening a light-reflecting element in place at anopening in wall of a sign comprising a yoke-like element including legportions and a bridge portion, and outwardly extended gripping portionsarranged at the outer ends ofsaid leg portions, said leg portions beingadapted to be extended through said opening in 'said wall of said signin a manner to cause said out- Wardly extended gripping portions toContact with the face of said wall of said sign, and said bridge portionbeing adapted to engage said light-reflecting element in a. manner tosecure same in place.

2. In combination with a sign including a wall provided with an apertureformed therethrough and a light-refiecting element disposed at saidaperture, a fastening device for securing said light-reflecting elementin place, said fastening device comprising a yoke-like element includingleg portions and a bridge portion, and outwardly extended grippingportions arranged at the outer ends of said leg portions, said legportions being extended through said aperture in said wall of the signin a manner to cause said outwardly extended gripping portions tocontact with a face of said wall.

3. In combination with a sign including a wall provided with an apertureformed therethrough and a light-reiiecting element disposed at saidaperture, a fastening device for securing said light-reliecting elementin place, said fastening device comprising a yoke-like element includingleg portions and a bridge portion, and outwardly extended grippingportions arranged at the outer ends of said leg portions, said outwardlyextended gripping portions being provided with curved faces and said legportions beingextended through said aperture in said wall of the sign ina manner to cause the curved faces of said outwardly extended grippingportions to contact with a face of said wall so as to facilitate pivotalmovement of the fastening device with respect to said Wall of the sign.

4. In combination with a sign including a wall provided with an apertureformed therethrough and a light-reflecting element disposed at saidaperture, a fastening d-evice for securing said light-reflecting elementin place, said fastening device comprising a yoke-like element includingleg portions and a bridge portion, and outwardly extended grippingportions arranged at the outer ends of said leg portions, said outwardlyextended gripping portions being arcuate in cross-section so as to beprovided with curved faces and said leg portions being extended throughsaid aperture in said wall of the sign in a manner to cause the curvedfaces of said outwardly extended gripping portions to contact with aface of said wall so as to facilitate pivotal movement of the fasteningdevice with respect to said wall of the sign.

5. In combination with a sign including a wall provided with an apertureformed therethrough and a light-.reflecting element disposed at saidaperture, a fastening device for securing said light-reflecting elementin place, said fastening device comprising a resilient yoke-like elementincluding leg portions and a bridge portion, and outwardly extendedgripping portions arranged at the outer ends of said leg portions, saidoutwardly extended gripping portions being provided With curved facesand said leg portions being extended through said aperture in said Wallof the sign in a manner to cause the curved faces of said outwardlyextended gripping portions to contact with a face of said wall so as tofacilitate pivotal movement of the fastening device with respect to saidWall of the sign.

6. In combination with a sign including a wall provided with an apertureformed therethrough and a light-reflecting` element disposed at saidaperture, a fastening device for securing said light-reflecting elementin place, said fastening device comprising a yoke-like element includingleg portions and a bridge portion, and outwardly extended grippingportions arranged at the outer ends of said leg portions, said outwardlyextended gripping portions being provided With curved faces and said legportions being extended through said aperture in said Wall of the signin a manner to cause the curved faces of said outwardly extendedgripping portions to contact with a face of said Wall so as tofacilitate pivotal movement of the fastening device with respect to saidWall of the sign, said yoke-like element being provided with portionsshaped to impart resiliency thereto.

7 A. device for fastening a light-reflecting element in place at anopening in a Wall of a sign, comprising a yoke-like element includingleg portions having gripping portions at their outer ends and a bridgeportion, said gripping portions being adapted to be extended into saidopening and to engage portions of said sign, and said leg portions andsaid bridge portion being adapted to embrace said light-reflectingelement in a manner to secure same in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto aii'ix my signature.

STEPHEN S. ADAMS.

